| We reboarded the coach and headed for the Open Air Museum. The Norwegian side streets and various buildings en route were very pretty. By now we were running a little behind schedule. |
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| The rain was still on and off as we arrived at the museum. I wasn't interested in stuffy old houses when it was very cramped with everyone from the coach inside and Rowan would have preferred the souvenir shop. I wanted to get the ships! Maxim Gorkiy was tormenting me. The only one I was having trouble getting a decent picture of. So I checked with the Cunard woman, saying it was really packed in there and asked if it was okay if we stayed outside. She said fine as they'd only be five minutes. Suited us as the bow of Explorer was tantalisingly peaking out. |
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| The five minutes came and went and the rain returned. Finally they emerged after the other group left. We went to see another house but it was very dark and there wasn't really much to look at. As we waited the moaners started again. Wouldn't have it the ship won't leave without us. But then these people lived in Waterlooville or somewhere and claimed they come here a lot to see the ships and Mary's always three hours late. She never is or ever has been. Not even on her maiden voyage. As they talked rubbish we just nodded and let them carry on. |
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| The rain had stopped - yay!!!! Handy though having plastic rubbish bags by the seat on the coach as I could put my wet and still living umbrella in one. We got back to the dock five minutes early so I hope that shut them up, especially as it was still over an hour until sailaway. |
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| I went to the observation deck for about 5.25pm and it was already packed. An American woman was really irritating. She was spread out so stop people even breathing, let alone getting in. When a lady on her other side moved and let Rowan in, as soon as Rowan moved a millimetre, the American nabbed her space. On my left side were a bloke from Northern Ireland and a lovely lady called Mary who was travelling alone. There was a band playing on the dockside but we couldn't hear it. At 6pm we cast our ropes for the final time and the tugs pulled us backwards to turn, beginning an hour of on and off blasting! Rowan got a little emotional about it all but still enjoyed herself. |
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| There were many people on the bridge waving flags so we blasted to them as we went underneath. It was all a good atmosphere onboard as we were stalked by pleasure boats. |
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| We went to the Lido for dinner then a wander. I bumped into Patrick Patton near the shops as he watched the show and chatted for a while before rejoining the others by the door. There was a pretty rainbow in the distance but it was very hard to get. It was a gorgeous evening and our first proper with the midnight sun. How exciting! |
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| We ended up in the Yacht Club before Amy and Jason decided at 9.30pm to go to bed. Rowan and I stayed and began a crazy drunken brilliant night! Well I was the drunken one. She was very good. We kept getting a good supply of nibbles thanks to David who began to second guess my order - glass of house white and crisps! |
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| We had considered the midnight buffet but midnight came and went so we clearly changed our mind. A 45 year old biker chick called Sue joined us once her family had gone to bed and then things REALLY went wild. David got us some crew food as the eateries were closed. The pizza was fabulous. Sue didn't want her slice so I had it. I'm always hungry when I'm drunk. A certain crew member came over (no names unless he's no longer an employee but it wasn't the lovely David) and bought us drinks. There was a fellow passenger called Carl who started talking to Rowan but she foisted him in my direction. He dragged me onto the dancefloor and as he groped, whispered sweet nothings down my ear such as he has bad eyesight and sees in black and white. Very romantic(!) I just wished he'd go away and got back to my seat as soon as I was able to. |
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| Despite who knows how many drinks I was still able to get the light at 3.30am from my chair. An hour later we were booted out of the Yacht Club. Everyone else had gone to bed and David knew how they felt. The crew member suggested going back to his cabin to continue the party. Carl rather too eagerly dashed back to his cabin to fetch his freebie World Club sparkling wine. We waited a while as the crew member had to do some other things before he returned with a couple of bottles. We were a little too loud and Sue and I tried controlling our giggles when the phone rang and he denied he was having a party. It rang again later and we tried to keep it down. At one point we got out cameras out but the crew member hid, not wanting to get into trouble. Bit late for that! Sue became my protector, telling him to keep his hand off my knee as she knew exactly what he was after. He tried defending his lustings but she wasn't having any of it, even when he snogged my face off. Rowan was more concerned over his drawer full of condoms! Well at least he was thinking of safe sex with whoever he picks up on these cruises. She was also worried he would try and take advantage of me in my drunken stupor. I was meant to be taking care of her not the other way round. Carl just sat in the corner being ignored basically while Sue and I were plied with drinks. |
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At 5.30am Rowan decided it was time to get me out while Sue stayed. Carl helped her get me back to the cabin only in my wisdom I decided to go and see Amy and Jason to tell them what they missed out on by leaving eight hours earlier. Rowan was furious as the blind led the blind drunk but in hindsight thought I did the right thing as we didn't want Carl knowing where our cabin was. Apparently I fell in their bin but don't remember that bit. I remember falling on the floor. Amy and Jason got me back to the cabin then Amy had a job putting me to bed. She'd tell me off because I wouldn't get off the floor. I did crawl onto the bed in the end and was asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow. |
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| Then we went to the theatre to wait. We were group 1 which was helpful so on the first tender. I felt dreadful but at least had something to occupy me now. Once we got on the coach I discovered my camcorder was playing up again. It had done the same thing on the first night but then worked again. This time it was being really impossible but I managed to film some of the trip. Behind us was an American couple called Howard and Patty Paulman. Howard is a professional photographer and we would both reach for the camera whenever Lizzie came into view. |
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| Our first stop was the observation area at Eagle's Bend. It was quite nice but didn't really do anything for me. Perhaps it was because of the way I was feeling. It was also not that great for pictures of the ship. |
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| The next stop was Flydal Gorge where we were joined by three other Cunard groups. But before that, our driver decided to show us his father's farm, where he was born, and a stone bridge as he had to turn the coach around anyway. He was a fun driver. It was his first time doing this particular job and I hope he's a success at it. As we waited to reboard I got talking to a Japanese lady who was doing the following cruise and asked where to go shopping and where Marks and Spencer was. |
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| Lizzie was joined by the Hurtigruten vessel, Vesteralen for about half an hour before she headed off to her next stop. It was a shame there were no other cruise ships in with us but there are for her final call in August. |
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| We decided to get the tender already there rather than hang around. I felt terrible and wanted to get back anyway. Rowan sat inside and I went up top. I love these ones. All tenders should have upstairs seating. It was a long wait as people arrived in dribs and drabs and I felt really sick. Thankfully my mind was taken off it by Wa Da Mihoko, a lovely Japanese lady who's a travel writer and loves ships. I noticed among the badges on her hat was Asuka II so that broke the ice and we had a nice chat. |
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| Once we got back all I wanted to do was sleep. Rowan went to Afternoon Tea and left me to it. I woke up before she returned feeling a lot better but would be laying off the booze that night. While she changed for dinner, I went out to see us raise anchor. I spotted the captain on the bridge but he turned away. |
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| Nothing was happening. They'd begin the raise the anchor then stopped so I went to dinner. As soon as we entered the restaurant, we heard the anchor being cranked up. As we were dining, we heard three blasts followed a short while later by three more. ARGH!!!!! |
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